Fluid applicator and package



c. T. Av|s. FLUID APPLICATOR AND PACKAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1920.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

FLUID APPLICATOR AND PACKAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, `1920.

Application led June 4, 1920. Serial No. 386,652.`

To all whom t mayV concern.'

Beit known that I, CHARLES T. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid Applicators and Packages, of which the followinv is a specification.

ily invention relates to the packaging of fluid 'medicaments or pharmaceutical preparations, and is especially directed to an improved forin of applicator for distributing the fluid accurately and evenly on the surface to be treated.

One arrangement heretofore employed for applying small amounts of fluid to a surface to be treated, includes a rod-like applicator, one end of which may be dipped -into the fluid in a suitable container and then applied to such surface. A construction of this type is found in the io'din packages generally known as trench tubes and disclosed in my Patent No. 1,259,964. Y

The efficiency of this process of treatment depends largely upon uniform action of the applicator, and the facility with which it may be employed. This includes not only convenience in form and arrangement, but also the ability to take up a uniform and substantial amount of the fluid independent of the quantity in the container.

The applicators heretofore employed have either been of hard non-absorbent material, or have been providedwith an absorbent portion or swab adapted to take up and hold the fluid. The formertype is capable of transferring onlylso much of the fluid as will adhere to its surface, which-often is inadequate for the purpose. Furthermore, the amount taken up by the hard type of applicator is largely dependent upon the depth to which Y it may be dipped into the fluid, so that the amount taken up varies with the quantity of fluid left in such container, and is so small when the supply is low as to render such applicators of little use. On the other hand, the swab type is uniformly made of fibrous material which is quite likely to get into and adhere to wounds or abrasions to which the -fiuid is applied. Moreover, the swabs take provide an applicator capable of taking up a substantial amount of fluid, but free from absorbent material. A lfurther object is to provide a non-absorbent applicator capable of taking up a substantial amount of fluid from a shallow supply, as when the contents of the usual container are nearly exhausted.

I also have produced such a device entirely free from fibrous material and yet capable of taking up and retaining a-substantial supply offiuid. Furthermore, the preferred form of my device is capable of rapid and cheap manufacture, and is suitable for inclosure in av relatively small, elongated glass vial or container.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is Ia longitudinal sectional view through a container,

. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of such ycontainer with the top removed, y

Fig. 3 is a view of a completed package, the case being in section to show the container therein,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through an applicator, and

F ig.- 5Y illustrates the method of opening a container.

While applicators embodying my invention may be employed with a great variety of containers or other sources of-fluid supply, I.

have shown the invention as applied to a package of the type which is disclosed in my said patent. In this arrangement, the appli.

cator 10 is normally located in a sealed glass tube 11 partlyfilled with a suitable fluid 12, such as iodin, the whole being conveniently packaged in a wooden case 13.

,When the tube is prepared for use by breaking off one end thereof, as shown in Fig. 5, the upper end of the applicator 10 projects above the mouth of the severed tube 11, so that it may readily be grasped'and manipulated by the user.

Applicator 10 is preferably formed of glass or other vitreous material. and may be in the form of a rod, though obviously this form may be varied to suit particular conditions. 'I provide a duct 14 open at one end of the applicator and also at a point substantially spaced from said end, one convenient arrangement being the employment I prefer to provide a duct 14 having a diameter suflieiently small so that the fluid will be drawn up into the duct by capillary attraction when the open end is placed in a source of supply. This arrangement insures a full charge of fluid in the applicator, regardless of the depth of the source, and permits the contents of container 11 to be used up to the last drop Without tilting or pouring from the container. Furthermore, a substantial amount of fluid may be carried by the applicator through suitable proportioning of the parts, and the quantity so taken up will be the same, regardless of the depth of applicator immersion in the fluid supply. Moreover, the action is entirely automatic and uniform.

I have also found that an applicator of this type will not only transfer fluid from the container 11 to the surface to be treated without losing its charge, but will give up such fluid readily `and evenly when an open end is applied to the surface, the action being very similar to that of a fountain pen. Furthermore, as the flow of fluid from the applicator is dependent upon the contact between the treated surface and the lower end of the column of fluid in duct 14, the flow from the applicator is readily stopped by raising it from the surface, the capillary attraction retaining the contents of duct 14 in place. Consequently, the fluid may not only be applied with precision at the exact points desired, but the amount used may be regulated with great accuracy.

I have also found it advantageous to reduce slightly the diameter of duct 14, preferably adjacent one or both ends thereof, as at 15. This arrangement, by., r ducing the size of the duct, increases the stre gth of the capillary attraction between the walls of duct 14 and the fluid therein at such points. For one thing, `I have found that with this construction I may employ a duct 14 of larger diameter than would otherwise be desirable, thereby increasing the capacity `of the applicator; for it will be apparent that the tendency of the fluid'to run out of the lower' end of the applicator upon removal thereof from the source of supply will increase more or less proportionately to the increase in diameter of duct 14, even though the size of the duct may be small enough to retain the effects of capillary attraction.

lVhen both ends of the duct are reduced, the vcolumn of fluid is held by an increased attraction. at two peints, so that the applicator may be transferred from the source of supply to the surface to be treated with duct 14 completely filled with the fluid. Moreover, when the parts are properly proportioned, the reduction of the applicator end which is placed on the surface to be treated does not materially interfere with the flow of fluid.

lVhile I have found it preferable to em- Aploy an applicator of the capillary type, it

will be apparent that when the applicator is packaged in or with a vial containing a suitable fluid, duct 14 may be so large as to have little orno capillary effect, the applicator being used in the same manner as a pipette. This construction retains the advantages of direct application and control of quantity without the disadvantages connected with the use of absorbent materials. t

It will be evident that, while I have shown the preferred `form of container and illustrated a specific method of packaging and use, my invention is not limited thereto, as a capillary applicator embodying my invention will operate with any suitable source of supply. Moreover, while particularly adapted to the application of medicaments or pharmaceutical preparations, my invention may be used with facility in connection with any type of'fluid used for surface application and which is amenable to capillary attraction in the manner hereinbefore set forth. The specific form disclosed is only one of various forms in which my invention e may be embodied; and I do not consider such invention to be limited thereto, as obviously many variations may be made within the Scope of the claims.`

I claim:

1. A package for fluid medicaments comprising a container holding the fluid, said container having a normally closed but removable cap portion, and a fluid applicator 10 fitting in said container comprising a tube having a duct so proportioned as to take up the fluid by capillary action when an end 1s submerged in said fluid, substantially retain said fluid against gravitational outflow and 10 dispense the fluid when the said end of the applicator vis brought into contact with a suitable surface.

2. In a package containing a fluid medicament, a fluid applicator inclosed within the 110 package comprising a vitreous tube, the inl` ner walls of which define-a duct so proportioned that the applicator will take up a supply of the medicament, substantially retain the same against gravitational outflow 115 and dispense it when the said end of the applicator is brought into contact with a suitable surface to be treated.

3. In a' package containing a fluid medicament, a fluid applicator comprising a 120 vitreous tube, the inner walls of which define a'duct of relatively small diameter, the diameter of the duct at both ends being reduced, the parts being so proportioned that the applicator will take up a. relatively large 125 supply of the medicament, retain the same against gravitational outflow and dispense it when an end of the applicator is brought into contact with a suitable surface.

4. A package for fluid medicaments comv13a Lecspco prising a container holding the Suid; said container having a normally sealed but severable cap portion and an applicator lit-ting .in said container comprising a tube; said tubev being of sutlicient length to provide an end projecting from the container When the cap portion is severed and having a duct proportioned to substantially retain the contents against gravitational outiiovv and dispense the same when an end thereof is brought into contact with a surface to be treated.

5. A. package for'tluid medicaments comprising a container holding the fluid; said container having a normally closed but removable cap portion, and an applicator titting in said container comprising a tube, the inner Walls of which dene a duct of relatively sinall diameter, the diameter of the duct at an end thereof being reduced; said tube being of sutlicient length to provide an' end projecting frein-the container when the cap portion is removed.

6. A package for luid medicaments comprising a container holding the fluid; said container `having a normally sealed but severable cap portion, and an applicator litting in said container comprising a tube constricted at both ends thereof to substantially retain its contents against gravitational outflow and dispense the same When an end is brought into contact with a surface lto be treated; the tube being of sufficient length to provide an end projecting from the container when the cap portion is severed.

7. A package for fluids, including a container adapted to hold a fluid, and an applicator comprised ot a tube having constricted ends to substantially retain the fluid contents against gravitational outflow and to dispense the same When brought into contact with a part to be treated,said applicator adapted to fit Within the container.

Signed at New York city in the county of Kings and State of New York, this 2nd day ozt June, A. D. 1920.

CHARLES T. DAVIS. 

